life experiences & findings

My journey as a "student of life" and an artist, with room for the
playful or downright silly, in my world, locally or globally.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

A Winter Ninja No More

This morning...I spot the first snow on some of my mountains...underlining thatthe magnificent summer we've experienced this year...is finally over...and thatthe new season...is on its way. When i lived in Ontario...there were no mountainsproviding me with can't miss signals from on high. They simply were not necessary.The first cold wind...some time before the end of Augyst...if I remember correctly...was enough to alert my system that it was...time for me to becomea soldier once again...to face the harrowing cold...and gloom shortened days coming up...not to mention...battles with the snow. I am happy to report...that the snowthis morning on my West Coast mountains...does not put me on red alert. I know nowfrom past experience living here...that the winter will be mild...barring unforseenclimate changes...the grass will continue to be green throughout autumn and winter...and brightly coloured berries...and even a few flowers here and there...will beon hand...through the shortened days...to help me to keep on...without having tobecome a winter ninja. I know too...that what is about to unfold...is the necessaryprelude...to my favourite season...spring...out here...unless the pattern changes...that starts it's slow but much anticipated unfolding...usually...some time inJanuary. So...let the shorter days and longer nights unfold productively...and maywe all last...until spring returns.....................Quester.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Windmill On My Mountain

For me...seeing an almost 180 degree sweep of mountains...from my front windows...has become a centering and inspirational part of my life. I have appreciated that the powers that be...have not allowed high rise buildings to go up in the foreground...blocking my mountain view. Two days ago...sitting on my couch... mountain gazing as I often do...I saw it for the first time...to the right of the ski runs...on the mountain at the centre of my post card view...a thin white pencil...pointing up to the sky!. I was looking at the first stage of a wind mill being erected on one of my mountains...something embarked upon...with no one consulting me...about whether I'd mind my view being messed with. On the one hand...it was a reminder of the "pawn in the game" aspect...that asserts itself sometimes...in our living environment. After processing a slight wobbling of my homeostasis...I reflected further...on the coming change in my skyline. Where I have arrived at...so far...is...that my world does urgently need to start...seeking new ways of powering itself...in ways that do not hasten the demise of our Earth...reaching to the sun...the tides...and...yes...the wind...and other naturalpower sources...to take us back to sanity. At one point in my reflections...anironic smile flitted across my face...as I saw...that Don Quixote and myself...have some tendencies in common...but instead of tilting at..."the windmill on mymountain"...I should leave it to turn in the wind...turning us onwards to a sanerway of living on our Earth........................Quester.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

My Journal...An Always Available Friend

Three days ago...as I started writing in a brand new long hand journal...Ipaused...to reflect on the act of journalling I was engaged in. I was reminded...that I first started doing this...fifteen years ago!. No wonder it has becomea well ingrained...more or less...daily habit. When I first started...I had tobe really tough with myself...to put down something in my journal pages...on aregular basis. Then...it was not yet a habit...but a new adventure in writing...about events in my daily life. I had previously done some of that...intermittently...in note books...but not with the notion of making it a dailypart of my life. I have missed a few days...making entries in my "daily" journal...when other events in my life...have taken away the focus and time...needed to do it...but I still think I can call it "daily"...because it is now an integral part of my life...where I tend to catch up...if I've missed a day...here and there. Daily journalling has benefited my life in many ways...which I won't getinto describing in today's post. So much so...that I was moved a few years back...to make a tape...to share with others...the benefits...and other aspects ofdaily journalling. Among many other things...my journal...is...an always available friend...I can discuss anything with...who lets me have my say...without interuption..................Quester.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Re: Right To Dancing Life

For several days now when I attempted to post a photo on this blog...my clickingof "upload image"...has produced nothing. This morning...I was nudged to do...a "work around"...feeling...my single pictures refuse to be uploaded...so I'llupload a whole raft of them then...disguised as a video...and so...uploaded"Right To Dancing Life". Perhaps...it's a good video choice...given the messagethe song involved carries...bears repeating...i.e. to move forward affirmativelywith our lives...regardless of our past mistakes. If we let them...our pasterrors...can leave us...living out our lives...carrying long chains...that stopus from seeing...the good we can still do in our lives that is still available to us...and therefore...not exercising the potential for that we carry in ourselves. "Right"...is a word that's often used...when we are actually talkingabout...a privilege. The poetic license...often employed in song making...isemployed in this song. The..."Privilege To Dancing Life"...would have sounded atad clumsy. The "right" spoken of here...can only be appoached with greatthankfulness...rather than be harshly claimed...as hope springs eternal................................Quester.

Right To Dancing Life

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The Nostalgia Effect

Last night...I located a cd...of the first album of songs I ever made...in Britain.A relative I hadn't seen for decades...had asked me to send him...this cd...at onepoint even quoting song words from it. As I listened to it...I was reminded of the kinds of songs I wrote...in my early song making days...and the territory I've travelled...since then. When people ask for songs of mine...they heard me do a long time ago...I want to say to them...although I still stand by my early songs..."but I've written so many other songs since then". These days ...I don't say that anymore...as once I might have done. That's because...I now understand what is at work...with this insistence on the "old material". I think...we human beings...tend to associate a song or songs...with long gone eras in our lives ...and many years later...that is what likely rules...i.e. that given a choice between ...a long ago song...and a "new and improved" song...people will often choose the one that registered on them...a long time ago. You could call it..."the nostalgia effect" ...at work here. For one thing...an old song will remind a person...of a time when he or she...was much younger than now...and people tend to look longingly...at those "gone forever" times. Anyway...today...I'm going to post a package to my relative...with that first record of mine he requested...and just in case...he might be open to it...a more recent cd of mine. It'll be interesting to hear...what he has to say...about the second album...that for him...doesn't have the "nostalgia effect"...working for it........................Quester.

Friday, September 18, 2009

An Organic Artist's Groove

Tried this morning...and again just now...to upload a photograph to this blog...butwhen I clicked..."upload image"...nothing happened. Perhaps...it's a reminder...notto be dependent on any one thing...and that blogs are for writing in. Speaking ofwhich...for the last while...once again paying attention to "nudges from the deep"I get...I've gotten into a 3 or 4 posts per week groove. Listening to these nudges...is an important part of my..."organic artist's"...path. This rate...fits my current situation...with keeping track of what's happening on my two YouTube channels...and trying to keep up with answering people's messages...rather than lagging too far behind...which I know...can easily happen to me. [Not to mention my ongoing productionof videos]. There have been times in the past...when I've kept up a post a day pace...until I got the signal to cease and desist. Right now is one such time. In addition to responding to a nudge...my hope is...that at my current rate...I'll have a bit more time...to "gather my thoughts"...for my entries. Well...that's enough gathering for today...without a photo to help me along. Hope to be back soon.........................Quester.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Not Too Far Up Ahead

The slender topmost branches of the tree by my window are bare. Below them brown leaves hang on...fighting a losing battle with autumn. The morning skies are stacked with row upon row of grey discouraging clouds. It's a good time to bring out today's picture...taken only a few months ago...with those beckoning mountains across thehopeful bay...ships on the water...bound for who knows where...and teasing theimagination...the achingly fresh green of recently unfurled leaves...people...loungingon the grass...celebrating their survival through a long winter...and in the forefront...bedazzling the eye...row upon row of elegant...red...red...tulips...accenting witha flourish...a beautiful West Coast scene. Reminds me once again...of where I'mprivileged to live...and that I just have to be patient...knowing...this scene...will unfold once again...not too far up ahead...................Quester.

Monday, September 14, 2009

The Sea Wall Path

So many times I've walked the sea wall path...looking out on English Bay...shown intoday's picture. Many times this has helped to centre me...or it has triggered creativeideas. Once in a while I've met people I know as I walked there...or recognised peopleI've seen down there before. Even when I go for stretches when I don't get down there...it is comforting for me to know that this special place awaits me on any day I amable to go to it and experience it's beauty. Usually there are different kinds of birdslivening up the air with their flight...as in today's picture...and in the winter timemany different species of water fowl...congregate on the water...next to the path. Ifeel very lucky to live in an international city...where nature is never far away...and I can experience a place like this...and many...many more...........Quester.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Age May Lead To Wisdom...Maybe

Sometimes..."old"...and..."wise"...are twinned...as if they inevitably belong together. Getting old...however...doesn't automatically mean...getting wise. What it does...is provide an individual with more life experiences...and more time to reflect on life. However...getting old...can easily cause someone...to become entrenched in his or her prejudices...and after hard life experiences...succumb to bitterness. I have often said...that bitterness is a state...to be resisted. My sense is that when you become bitter...even though you may have had strong cause to go in that direction...the "other side"...that you are bitter about...would have ended up winning the day. I think that getting older...can lead to getting wiser...if along the way...an individual learns about...and practises...forgiveness...compassion...gracefulness...being loving...laughing... and peaceful. [I'm sure I've forgotten some other important qualities...but this list will suffice]...and at all times...is open to learning about life...rather than being closed off...from having had bad experiences. There's more I probably could say...but I'm reminded of words from one of my own songs..."fools may speak of wisdom...whilewise men have no say...let your mind keep open...and light may come your way".A good place to sign off.....................Quester.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

A Large Red Dot

I've...over time...trained myself...not to live life...easily irritated by this or that...having seen how some people seem to live out their lives...expressing anger...at the slightest thing...perhaps having arrived at a condition in themselves...that is now part and parcel of what they have become. I don't want that to happen to me...if I can help it. There is at least one thing...though...I don't think I'm ever likely to become mellow about. It's none other than having spam thrust upon me...through any of its many highways to me...i.e...the internet...my telephone...on the street...my post box ...etc...etc. A few years ago I asked the postal employee...who was putting mail into my mail box...along with a hefty clump of fliers...if there was a way junk mail could be stopped. He told me...no...postal workers are required by law...to deliver junk. I sighed and walked away. A couple mornings ago...I asked another post man...what could be done about this problem. I don't know if the law has changed recently...but he said...you can either put a sticky label on your post box...saying no junk...or simply...a red dot. The elegance of the second choice...immediately caught my attention...I'm like that...even in the midst of junk...I keep an eye out for elegance. This afternoon I located some large stick on red dots...and engaged in a David-like act...as he strikes back at Goliath...I stuck one on my post box. I felt as I did that...there is some hope left in this world...for the "little citizen" to make a choice not to be ongoingly pestered...by something unwanted. I enjoyed sticking on that red dot...like a little kid...casting a magic spell. I really hope this one works.........................Quester.

Saturday, September 05, 2009

A "Calling"...Not A "Career"

A friend...who is a fellow countryman...who has helped spread the word about my workfor quite a while now...which I appreciate...keeps bemoaning the notion...that I'munknown...in my country of origin. What he doesn't realize...is that...that is ofutterly no consequence to me...if it happens to be true. My long journey creating songs...poems...pictures...prose...walking sticks...videos etc...and sometimes performing some of the creations that could be performed...for me...has never been a "career"...it's always been a "calling". I've spent just about 100 per cent of my artist's energy...creating...and trying to make it better...and just about 0 per cent...on schmoozing...and other insincere...and often undignified "career" practices. Part of following a "calling"...is a faith in the universe and its abundance. I've experienced abundance with my creative work...that's why...so far...I can keep uploading songs...poems,,,etc...online...and I am thankful for it. I don't feel a need to "hoard" my work...I am not anxious about my material running out...or feeling I have to bow to market place edicts...to create scarcity...the better to sell my work. The last two years or so...I've been giving some of my created material...to my world...it's my way of giving back...for all I've been blessed with. I always wanted to do that...but there were undignified hoops to jump through...and I couldn't bring myself to engage in that. Uploading some of my material...online...letting it speak for itself...bypassing...critics...managers...record companies...agents etc...I've found to be...so far...a dignified way of sharing my created workwith my world...and I feel at home doing it. Hopefully...what I have just written...will offer an insight to those who worry about my "unbusiness-like" approach tomy work as an artist. I am thankful for their concern...but...with a "calling"...despite my imperfect way of heeding it...that stuff....usually tends to stay off the radar screen of my life...............Quester.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Part Of A Life Led

Last night...looking for a listing on Google...I came upon an unexpected one. Itmentioned my name...nothing exceptional about that...[there are many online with myname]...and a song I'd written and sung in Britain...when I lived and toured there...many years ago. On this site...there were twenty nine messages...to and from differentpeople...asking for information about my song. It's interesting how people discussyou...when you have not been visible to them for a long time. It reminded me a bit...of stories people write or tell about others who have passed on. That is one reasonI have many videos on YouTube...not to mention...this blog...i.e. to tell at least part of my own story. The story on the page in question...that got the biggest chuckle out of me...was that I'd written the song people were asking about..."Slightly Faded"...based on what happened with me and a "prostitute I was engaged to". Nothing......of course...could be further from the truth...but...I could see how some people puzzling about thecatalyst for the song...having not been told what it actually was...might invent theirown back story for it. In a way I suppose...it's similar to the way human beingspass around stories to each other...with each telling getting further and furtheraway from the truth of the matter. I did send a message to the site to set the recordstraight...but...it didn't seem to have registered on the site...like the othermessages on the page. [Me and that "cyber shadow" thing again!]. Anyway...my going through the messages...was also...a trip down memory lane...in a distant chapter in my life...and sometimes...it's good to have those...if you can then relinquish them as being...just part of a life led............................Quester.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Wish List To Marakakore

I've used my after lunch time today...searching to find a way...to link this blog...to my marakakore YouTube channel. For some people...this is simple stuff. For me...sofar...not so. It's like going on a safari into a deep jungle. Who knows why it's like that?. Perhaps...it goes back to growing up...on the banks of a river...in thecountry side of Guyana...where the technology was simple...relative to how it is thesedays. I'd like to think I've gotten over any hangovers from that...but...who knows?.Although it offers itself sometimes...I've dismissed the conspiracy theory...thatdigital technology...has it in for me...although...sometimes...there seems to be strong evidence...that's not the case. Just as I did in high school...when frontal approaches to problems didn't work for me...looking for ways of "working around" to a solution...today...I finally found one...for linking this blog to my marakakore channel. It does involve two clicks...though I know the holy grail in cyberspace...is one click...but I hope my viewers don't mind the added exertion. The path to my marakakore channel...is shown at the top right of my page...right under my photo...with the second click happening...on "Wish List". Works for me...after all it's been my wish for a long time...to get this done!....................Quester.